From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Has Ajani Dwyer ever run track before?

The MileSplit database says no. Dwyer, a junior at Washington Township, ran some relays for the Minutemen earlier this year, but there’s no record of him ever competing in an major individual meet before Saturday.

If so, one day into his track career, he’s one of the fastest sprinters in South Jersey history.

Dywer won the 100 in 10.73 and the 200 in 21.55 Saturday at the SJTCA Open at Delsea. It was the fastest one-meet double by a South Jersey sprinter in six years, since Pennsauken’s Martin Booker ran 10.67 and 21.47 at the 2017 state Group 3 meet at Northern Burlington. It was the fastest one-meet sprint double by a Gloucester County runner since Kingsway’s Dorian Bryant ran 10.68 and 21.41 at the 2002 state Group 2 meet in Egg Harbor, placing second to Ewing’s Adian Sanderson in the 100 and winning the 200.

He’s only the 11th sprinter in South Jersey history to run that fast for both sprints in his high school career, and he’s in some pretty good company:

10.47, 21.06 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
10.49, 21.53 … Jonathan Taylor [Salem], 2017
10.53, 21.40 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], 2001
10.54, 21.52 … Fabian Santiago [Oakrest], 2010, 2012
10.63, 21.46 … Sabli Gonnet [Eastern], 2007
10.65, 21.41 … Dorian Bryant [Kingsway], 2002, 2003
10.67, 21.41 … T.J. Johnson [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2009, 2010
10.67, 21.39 … Martin Booker [Pennsauken], 2017
10.68, 21.06 … Antonio Tarantino [Paul VI], 2017
10.73, 21.55 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2023

Dwyer won the 100 by 3 ½ meters over Cherokee senior Wes Davenport, who PR’d at 11.12. In the 200, he finished three meters clear of Trenton senior Gabriel Truehart who PR’d at 21.92.

Dwyer’s times are both No. 1 this year in South Jersey. He’s No. 4 in the state in the 100 and No. 3 among underclassmen and No. 3 in the 200 and No. 2 among underclassmen.

His 100 time is No. 13 in Glocuester County history, and his 200 is No. 5 and fastest in 17 years, since A.J. Bunton of West Deptford ran 21.53 at the 2006 Meet of Champions in South Plainfield.

His 100 is fastest by a Gloucester County underclassman in 16 years, since Kingsway’s Robert Page ran 10.67 at the 2007 Meet of Champions at South Plainfield and fastest by a Gloucester County underclassman since Todd Dutch – also from Washington Township – ran 21.40 at the 2001 Meet of Champions in Egg Harbor.

Here’s a look at the all-time Gloucester County performance lists:

All-Time Gloucester County 100-Meter Dash List
10.47 … James Brown [Glassboro], 2009
10.53 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], 2001
10.55 … Evan Corcoran [Kingsway], 2022
10.60 … Robert Page [Kingsway], 2008
10.60 … Shawney Kersey [Woodbury], 2009
10.60 … Thomas Hampton [Clayton], 2019
10.65 … Dorian Bryant [Kingsway], 2003
10.65 … Mar-quel Davis [Deptford], 2017
10.66 … Bruce Owens [Deptford], 2004
10.70 … R.J. Page [Kingsway], 2008
10.70 … Jared Nicholson [Williamstown], 2016
10.73 … Sean McPherson [Delsea], 2010
10.73 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2023

All-Time Gloucester County 200-Meter Dash List
21.40 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], 2001
21.41 … Dorian Bryant [Kingsway], 2002
21.53 … A.J. Bunton [West Deptford], 2006
21.54 … Derek Ward [Kingsway], 1992
21.55 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2023
21.56 … Bruce Owens [Deptford], 2005
21.56 … Darrell Bush [Woodbury], 2011
21.57 … Mar-Quel Davis [Deptford], 2017
21.60 … Juwan Johnson [Glassboro], 2013
21.62 … Evan Corcoran [Kingsway], 2022
21.69 … Robert Page [Kingsway], 2007